The present stance of the CDC rejects the notion that Norovirus can be transmitted through the air. Many microbiologists will tell you otherwise. When you consider the virus is responsible for 200,000 deaths annually, and that the global financial burden is estimated at a staggering $60 billion, it is important that we do all we can to determine all modes of transmission. Plenty of studies, some of which you will see in the links below, suggest that developing methods to treat air and limit transmission can help prevent the spread of this virus, which is thought to infect people five times in their lives. Efforts to understand airborne transmission, developing approaches and technologies to mitigate the spread, are crucial. It costs too many lives and too much money to ignore. Recognizing the threat of airborne transmission – both before and after a potential vaccine is developed – is a critical step toward controlling better the spread of Norovirus. [caption id="attachment_21831" align="alignright" width="300"] Credit: CDC[/caption] • Vomiting linked to airborne norovirus, hospital outbreaks • Norovirus may spread by airborne route — are current precautions enough to protect HCWs? • Outbreaks cause staff illness, costly furloughs • The Global Burden of Norovirus & Prospects for Vaccine Development

Anti-vaccination groups have been around since the first vaccination programs were developed. Misleading and downright erroneous information has fueled resistance to vaccinations through the years. A British doctor in 1998 published a research paper investigating the alleged relationship between vaccinations and autism and bowel disease among those inoculated. The paper was discredited and shown to be fraudulent in 2011, but the damage was done. The non-existent connections are still cited even today as evidence vaccines are not safe. While like most everything, vaccination results aren’t perfect. But objective scientific data points overwhelmingly to the safety and efficacy of vaccines to prevent widespread outbreaks of controllable diseases such as measles, smallpox, tetanus, polio, typhoid, influenza, whooping cough and on and on. Herd immunity requires vaccine interventions to evolve, and the overall health of our population depends on them. To eschew vaccines is irresponsible and puts entire population at risk needlessly. Below are links to a few studies and research efforts that examine the efficacy of vaccinations and the risks of failing to inoculate. Measles does long-term damage to immune system, studies show Anti-Vaccine Decision-Making and Measles Resurgence in the United States The anti-vaccination movement Why Measles Is So Contagious and How to Protect Yourself Measles, autism and vaccination in the Minnesota Somali community

The current pandemic brings to the fore again the different ways viruses are spread, and the importance of continuing to study and explore these methods in the ongoing quest to contain the spread of disease. People might be more likely to be exposed to the flu through airborne virus, research from the University of Maryland School of Public health shows. In an article titled UMD Study Provides New Clues to How Flu is Spread , Donald Milton, M.D., Dr.P.H – director of the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health – offers some compelling insights on the research. "Our study provides new evidence that there is nearly nine times more influenza virus present in the smallest airborne droplets in the breath exhaled from those infected with flu than in the larger droplets that would be expected to carry more virus," explains Dr. Milton. "This has important implications for how we prevent the spread of flu." The study also found that when flu patients wear a surgical mask, the release of virus in even the smallest airborne droplets can be significantly reduced. This is significant as mask mandates remain in effect in many jurisdictions across the United States in the battle to contain Covid-19. [caption id="attachment_42194" align="alignleft" width="340"] sanjeri/iStock[/caption] The researchers also tested the impact of wearing a surgical mask on the virus shedding into airborne droplets. Wearing a surgical mask significantly decreased the presence of virus in airborne droplets from exhaled breath. There was a 2.8 fold reduction in the amount of virus shed into the smallest droplets, and a 3.4 fold overall reduction in virus shed in both the coarse and fine and airborne particles. Read the entire story at the link provided above.

Infection Control Archives - Healthier Environment Living Program

Infection and Electronics

Infection and Electronics

By James Sweeney|2020-12-03T00:02:34+00:00December 2nd, 2020|

Germs notoriously do not discriminate. They hitch rides any way they can. And they can make a home quickly on virtually any surface, any piece of equipment. We [...]

Humans leave a lot of biology when they leave a room

Humans leave a lot of biology when they leave a room

By James Sweeney|2020-11-26T01:05:20+00:00November 26th, 2020|

Hand washing and hand sanitizing are among the easiest behaviors to employ in an effort to avoid being affected by and spreading germs that can cause disease. On [...]

Floors and cross contamination

Floors and cross contamination

By James Sweeney|2020-11-16T16:51:59+00:00November 16th, 2020|

Most look around but rarely down when they consider possible homes for germs. It’s probably best to rethink that. Hospital floors are particularly vulnerable to the gathering of [...]

Norovirus

Norovirus

By James Sweeney|2020-11-16T16:29:06+00:00November 16th, 2020|

The present stance of the CDC rejects the notion that Norovirus can be transmitted through the air. Many microbiologists will tell you otherwise. When you consider the virus [...]

Transmission of Acinetobacter

Transmission of Acinetobacter

By James Sweeney|2020-11-02T18:27:00+00:00November 2nd, 2020|

Not all that long ago, our hands were considered to be the primary vehicles for the spread of infection. And while sanitary practices like washing our hands remain [...]

Hands, Air and Surfaces all impact the spread of disease

Hands, Air and Surfaces all impact the spread of disease

By James Sweeney|2020-10-26T21:48:17+00:00October 26th, 2020|

Hand washing and hand sanitizing are among the easiest behaviors to employ in an effort to avoid being affected by and spreading germs that can cause disease. On [...]

Airborne Transmission

Airborne Transmission

By James Sweeney|2020-10-18T18:32:54+00:00October 18th, 2020|

Most folks are aware of the perils of surface contamination as it relates to the transmission of infectious diseases. Contaminated hands touching door knobs, remote controls, furniture and [...]

Vaccines Save Lives

Vaccines Save Lives

By James Sweeney|2020-10-18T18:18:01+00:00October 18th, 2020|

Anti-vaccination groups have been around since the first vaccination programs were developed. Misleading and downright erroneous information has fueled resistance to vaccinations through the years. A British doctor [...]

More sources for antimicrobial resistance

More sources for antimicrobial resistance

By James Sweeney|2020-10-12T14:46:38+00:00October 12th, 2020|

The introduction of antibiotics into clinical medicine in the 1930s and 1940s appeared to be a global health triumph that would last seemingly forever. However, that hasn’t been [...]

How bugs are spread?

How bugs are spread?

By James Sweeney|2020-10-08T13:22:26+00:00October 8th, 2020|

The current pandemic brings to the fore again the different ways viruses are spread, and the importance of continuing to study and explore these methods in the ongoing [...]

Masks Protection during a Pandemic

Masks Protection during a Pandemic

By James Sweeney|2020-10-01T10:01:37+00:00October 1st, 2020|

To mask or not to mask, that is the question. If you follow the overwhelming scientific evidence, filter out conspiracies and unfounded misinformation, the answer is as resoundingly [...]

Thoughts on the Immune System

Thoughts on the Immune System

By James Sweeney|2020-09-20T23:15:30+00:00September 20th, 2020|

First proposed in 1989, the “hygiene hypothesis” is dated – and dangerous, potentially confusing the public and possibly adding to the spread of infectious disease. Generally, the hypothesis [...]